Glasgow Labour MSP Anne McTaggart has welcomed the increase of the living wage for public workers in Glasgow and across Scotland, but has demanded that the Scottish Government close the low pay loophole so that it can be extended to more workers.

The living wage is now set at £7.65 and hour, which represents to a full time minimum wage worker in Glasgow an increase of over £2,500 a year.

Anne McTaggart MSP has also signed a motion in Holyrood supporting the living wage, and is calling upon the Scottish Government to deliver it for workers on public contracts in Glasgow.

Currently, people employed by Scottish Government departments are paid the living wage; however jobs employed by the Scottish Government on sub-contracts, such as cleaning, catering and retail, can be paid at a lower rate.

Anne McTaggart MSP has stated this loophole is “morally wrong”, and undermines the cause of the living wage in the public sector, and has criticised the SNP for not extending the living wage to workers in Glasgow but offering a £385m tax cut to big businesses.

Anne McTaggart MSP has demanded an urgent review of sub-contracted jobs from the Scottish Government.

Anne McTaggart MSP said “The increase in the living wage is great news. It now represents a wage boost of over £2,500 to a minimum wage worker.This would make a huge difference to hard working people in Glasgow facing a cost of living crisis.

“I want to see the living wage extended to workers on public contracts in Glasgow and across Scotland.The living wage will help us build a moral economyand it is not right that agencies can currently exploit the low pay loophole to deny people a fair day’s pay for a hard day’s work.

“Better wages are good for workers, communities and the economy here in Glasgow and the Scottish Government should join myself and colleagues in Scottish Labour in fighting to deliver it for more workers.”

Motion on Living Wage Increase

Title:♦ The Living Wage Uprated to £7.65 from 1 April

Motion Text:

That the Parliament welcomes the uprating of the living wage for many public sector workers across Scotland; notes that, from 1 April 2014, it will increase from £7.45 per hour to £7.65; understands that the delivery of the living wage would bring a pay boost of over £2,500 to full-time workers in Rutherglen, Cambuslang, Blantyre and across Scotland who currently receive the minimum wage; considers that this would make a huge difference to hardworking people in the face of a rising cost of living; believes that there is support for the living wage from across civic Scotland and among the political parties, and considers that the effective promotion of the living wage is essential in building a moral economy for Scotland.